A blog on politics and education, supporting socialist ideals and equality of opportunity. Against obscene wealth and inequality.

Friday, 12 June 2015

Another Tory trap for Labour

The clever trap Osborne and the Tories have
designed for the Labour leadership candidates to jump into must be ignored
(Osborne turns to "Micawber" economics,10/06/15). The obvious response from them
is to point out that the Tories` desire to shrink the state back to levels last
seen when laissez-faire principles dominated political thinking, and when
inequality flourished, does not coincide with Labour values. Also, emphasising
that having "tax revenues covering spending on both infrastructure and
day-to-day running of the government" makes no sense whatsoever, and amounts to
a dereliction of government`s duty. When the housing shortage needs urgent
government attention, when the NHS and care are facing financial crises, when
cities, as Owen Jones points out, need investment if they are to be made "fit
for people", (We must fight to make our cities healthier places,10/06/15) and
when borrowing, at what in real terms amounts to almost zero interest rates,
makes economic sense, the suggestion that improving the quality of people`s
lives can only be attempted when the books are balanced is nothing other than
negligence.

Failure to challenge Osborne now will again leave
the Labour party open to attack from the Tory propaganda machine; this "new
settlement" rhetoric is simply the continuation of Osborne`s preparation for the
next election, which began with his "northern powerhouse" nonsense. It was
announced earlier this week that work on the electrification of the Manchester
to Leeds railway, announced by the Tories in 2011, still has not started, and
no-one is prepared to suggest a completion date! Says everything
really.